Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-12-15
AsOUNDlNG IN ALL GRAcES.

Faith and WOrks-True Christianity Con-
sists in the Symmetrical ID developments
oi Many Virtues.
CHRISTIANITY does not consist either
of doctrine alone or of works alone;
but both of doctrine and works. Doc
trinc or faith without works is dead.
and works without doctrine or faith is
mere lcGalism which is but simulat
lif'. having neither heartbeat or
pulse. Tie cry Of some teachers is
That it does not matter how you live so
That your doctrine or faith is right; the
cry of others is that doctrine or faith
is OF minor consequences SO that your
life and works are correct Some
.hearers complain that preaching is too
'docirinal and others that it is too prac-
teal The true idea is that of WELL
ansvuc.cl faith making itself mani
fest in 4 well-orlerel life. In order TO
attain well developed Christian life
we must know the truth concerning
Jesus and His great work ofredemption
and our relation to that work. and
then show forth cnr faith by maHi-
I station of the ''virtucS of Him who
hath called us out of darkness into His
marvellous light" Faith must be held,
and good conscience must be main
taincd rs to life and service, for the
apostle tells us tina. some having put
away good Conscience have made
shipwreck of faith. We must ..hold
fast the form of sound words. in faith
and love which is in Christ Jesus" for
she Scriptures are profitable for doc
frine. that is for divine teaching; but
ahey are also profitable for and in
tended for ''rcproof and correction
and for instruction in righteousness,
that the man of God may be perfect
trcpaireD. thoroughly furnished unto
all good works" To the most casual
reader it is apparent in all the apostolic
teaching that doctrine is taught with
n view not only of giving assurance
10 the believer rs to his salvation,
but with 4 view of developing and
bringing to perfection y character
which shall eventuate in the moral
image Of Jesus Christ. Those things
which We have both learned. and re-
ceived. and heard. and seen in Me. do:
and the God of peace shall be with
you" This is like unto the teachin q
of our Lord. who said TO his disciples:
If We know these things happy are
We if We do them" Faith is first, and
works follow. This is the order as
well as the relation; that is, we must
dave both faith and works. and have
them in proper order and relation.
We do not work TO live but we live to
work. S, much for the foundation
and essential elements in Christian
life. This. however is not all
Christianity does not consist in the
gigantic d .velopment of a single vir-
tue. but in the symmetrical develop
-mcnt of many virtues: Therefore as
ye abound in every thing. in faith, and
utterancc and knowledge. and in all
diligence. and in your love to us. see
that ye abound in this grace also:"
that is. in the grace of beneficence.
The Corinthians were a very gifted
company Of Christians. but rs a rule
they were illiberal and penurious.
The apostle commends them for their
many virtues. but warns them that if
they will be all-arOund Christians they
must not suffer themse selves to be de-
Ecient in any grace. This is taught in
many passages of the epistles We
are not only to have faith, which is
the foundation grace. but we are to